The 2008 Euro Cup Thread

[Critch]

I'm not a fan of Germany, but I'm very happy that they're through to the final. Until today Turkey had played 16 minutes of crazy football (15 v Czechs, 1 v Croatia) and the rest of it was boring defensive stuff straight out of Greece's playbook from the last Euros. On top of that they were dirty, by far the worst disciplinary record of any team at the Euros. They didn't have all those suspensions for nothing.

So I'm glad they're going home, can look forward to a good final with Germany v either Spain or Russia.

[Northwood_DK]

I’m not a big fan of Germany either but every time they can help me pocket $350 they are okay in my book.

[B & B]

Maybe I missed your bet, but the krauts were -240 range to win over the turks. Did you lay eight hundred to win that?

[DaddyTorgo]

looking forward to getting home after work today and watching today's game!

[Cringer]

Lightening behind the stadium. Yippee. Hope things are better then yesterday as far as the coverage.

Some of the Spanish players look like girls. Torres just needs boobs and he is all set. I must cheer for Russia.

[Icy]

Incredible game by Spain today, the first 30 minutes of the second half were simply perfect soccer. The last 10 minutes were garbage after Russian coach asked Spanish one to please stop it and they would trow the towel (Spain was winning 3-0 already).

Don't know if Spain will win the champ or not, but besides the first games by Holland, Spain has played the best soccer without doubt, not any team can match our current midfield, that can touch and touch like if they were playing vs a high school team, then speed it up a bit to score when needed.

The only bad news is the injury of David Villa that will probably miss the final game after he injured himself kicking a fault. On the other hand, if Spain played great today with another attacking midfielder (Fabregas) that replaced Villa after the injury, as we controlled the ball even more.

[Radii]

grats icy, i'll be rooting for spain in the final!

[Northwood_DK]

Originally Posted by B & B

Maybe I missed your bet, but the krauts were -240 range to win over the turks. Did you lay eight hundred to win that?

No. With the Germans winning I was guarantied to take home the office pool. I actually picked the Germany-Spain final and Icy will properly be glad that I have Spain winning it all. They looked great to night.

[Northwood_DK]

Originally Posted by Icy

The only bad news is the injury of David Villa that will probably miss the final game after he injured himself kicking a fault. On the other hand, if Spain played great today with another attacking midfielder (Fabregas) that replaced Villa after the injury, as we controlled the ball even more.

I feel a little bad for Raul. He deserved to be part of this.

[ISiddiqui]

Wow... great performance by Spain!

I want to see them beat the Germans and hopefully play this nicely in that game as well.

Russia has nothing to be disappointed about. They had an amazing performance in this tournament!

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Cringer

Some of the Spanish players look like girls. Torres just needs boobs and he is all set. I must cheer for Russia.

heh. I've always thought both Torres and Sergio Ramos do look quite feminine.

[DaddyTorgo]

puyol looks like a tranny too

but yes...if torres had A-cups even you'd swear he was a girl.

[DaddyTorgo]

FYI - Ballack is doubtful with a right calf injury

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

FYI - Ballack is doubtful with a right calf injury

ABC just said he's expected to start..

/tk

[DaddyTorgo]

aaah - well everything I saw on espn said he was doubtful. Idk who I believe more. Any word on abc about david villa?

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

aaah - well everything I saw on espn said he was doubtful. Idk who I believe more. Any word on abc about david villa?

If I heard correctly, he's out. I was surprised about Ballack. I guess we'll see how things go.

/tk

[DaddyTorgo]

strange. I still have yet to see anything about what exactly the villa-injury was.

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

strange. I still have yet to see anything about what exactly the villa-injury was.

I think it's a strained/pulled quad or hamstring. Something in the upper leg.

/tk

[DaddyTorgo]

aaaah

thnx!

[DaddyTorgo]

Probable starting line-up (4-5-1): Lehmann; Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm; Schweinsteiger, Frings, Ballack, Hitzlsperger, Podolski; Klose.

Probable starting line-up (4-5-1): Casillas; Ramos, Puyol, Marchena, Capdevila; Iniesta, Xavi, Senna, Fabregas, Silva; Torres.

[B & B]

Germany +240
Spain +125
Draw +220


DT has the right lineups, Ballack + Frings play

Villa ruled out, Spain goes with one F up front in Torres.


Spain wins this one.

[terpkristin]

Is it just me or does Ballack look a little like Matt Damon, especially in the face?

/tk

[terpkristin]

Bah, I've never been a fan of the opening ceremony crap. Too fruity.

/tk

[DaddyTorgo]

FERNANDO TORRES GETS SOME LUCK FINALLY!!!!

[kingfc22]

Torres is torching the German defense right now

[terpkristin]

That was beautiful. Nice pressure by Torres.

/tk

[Cringer]

That was perdy.

[DaddyTorgo]

he is. Really exposing their lack of pace (in the centre) and their defensive ability on the sides

TAKE THE SHOT INIESTA YOU FOOL!!!

[DaddyTorgo]

really that's at least twice iniesta (i think) has had the ball outside with a clear look at goal and has cut it back inside to take the shot instead of taking the initial open shot. And neither time have they gotten the cutback off

[Easy Mac]

Schweinsteiger looks like an extra from Die Hard

[DaddyTorgo]

AGAIN DAMNIT INIESTA!!!! SHOOT THE MOTHERFUCKING BALL!!!!

[daedalus]

this referee sucks. why the hell has it taken so long for ballack to get carded? why the hell was casillas carded?

[DaddyTorgo]

aaah that explains it. It's his off-foot. Well then he needs to be playing the other side or have somebody else in there, because those are open looks at goal

[DaddyTorgo]

casillas was carded for pointing out to the ref that he sucks and ballack should have been carded earlier

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

he is. Really exposing their lack of pace (in the centre) and their defensive ability on the sides

torres beat the fullback by pace, not the centrebacks.

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

TAKE THE SHOT INIESTA YOU FOOL!!!

he really need to switch back with silva. he has no left foot whatsoever. or if he has, he has zero confidence in it. frustrating.

[DaddyTorgo]

he beat the fullback (lahm) by pace, but he's also beating mertasacker + metzelder on several diagonals through the center

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

aaah that explains it. It's his off-foot. Well then he needs to be playing the other side or have somebody else in there, because those are open looks at goal

i think they wanted david silva to go at lahm because he is beatable and iniesta is less of that type (running at people). i still think they should go back since, like you said, they are wasting open looks.

[ISiddiqui]

Nice job Torres. Decent pace to the game in the first half after the first 10 minutes.

[DaddyTorgo]

he's beatable yes, but arne friederich isn't exactly a defensive wall either on the other side as iniesta has shown

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

he beat the fullback (lahm) by pace, but he's also beating mertasacker + metzelder on several diagonals through the center

one of the two M&Ms have always been back in time. just. but still in time to prevent much of a look. excepting for that header that should have been a goal.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by daedalus

one of the two M&Ms have always been back in time. just. but still in time to prevent much of a look. excepting for that header that should have been a goal.

m+m's...love it

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

he's beatable yes, but arne friederich isn't exactly a defensive wall either on the other side as iniesta has shown

oh, i agree. i just think that that is the idea of why david silva is on that side.

i am not impressed by any of the four fullbacks, defensively. lahm and sergio ramos are outstanding offensively but have both look poor defensively. i am actually surprised that the germans have not sent podolski to take apart sergio ramos yet. i think sergio ramos and capdavila are major weakpoints.

[daedalus]

colour commentator thought the capdavila handball would/should have been an indirect free-kick because it was incidental. is that correct?

[daedalus]

what the hell? lahm is out?

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by daedalus

colour commentator thought the capdavila handball would/should have been an indirect free-kick because it was incidental. is that correct?

That seems ridiculous. But what do I know.

/tk

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by daedalus

colour commentator thought the capdavila handball would/should have been an indirect free-kick because it was incidental. is that correct?

nah. No way you get that call ever...the ball played his hand, his hand didn't play the ball. The ball "jumped into his hand" if you will, there was no intent at all behind it.

strange substitution indeed - swapping lahm out for marcel jansen

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

nah. No way you get that call ever...the ball played his hand, his hand didn't play the ball. The ball "jumped into his hand" if you will, there was no intent at all behind it.

so is that a no-call or an indirect free-kick for the german?

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

strange substitution indeed - swapping friederich out for marcel jansen

even stranger: lahm out for jansen.

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by daedalus

so is that a no-call or an indirect free-kick for the german?even stranger: lahm out for jansen.

Should be a no-call.

/tk

[DaddyTorgo]

it should rightly be a no-call IMO (and I did ref for years).

yeah yeah...i'm like 30 seconds behind on the dvr, and I just deleted the first post and replaced it (my browser went cuckoo so I figured why bother editing it)

[daedalus]

ow. that's a klose owie.